Mr. Miyagi died

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actor Pat Morita, whose portrayal of the wise and dry-witted Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid earned him an Oscar nomination, has died. He was 73.

In addition to appearing in movies and TV, Pat Morita also sang the National Anthem at the 2000 Democratic National Convention in L.A.

Morita died Thursday at his home in Las Vegas of natural causes, said his wife of 12 years, Evelyn. She said in a statement that her husband, who first rose to fame with a role on Happy Days, had "dedicated his entire life to acting and comedy." (Related items: Audio: Pat Morita on his role as Mr. Miyagi | Video: Pat Morita dies at 73)

In 1984, he appeared in the role that would define his career and spawn countless affectionate imitations. As Kesuke Miyagi, the mentor to Ralph Macchio's "Daniel-san," he taught karate while trying to catch flies with chopsticks and offering such advice as "wax on, wax off" to guide Daniel through chores to improve his skills.

Morita as Mr. Miyagi in Karate Kid. (AP)

"It was both my honor and privilege to have worked with him and create a bit of cinema magic together," Macchio said in a statement. "My life is all the richer for having known him. I will miss his genuine friendship."

"Forever my Sensei," Macchio added, referring to Morita's role in The Karate Kid.

Morita said in a 1986 interview with The Associated Press he was billed as Noriyuki "Pat" Morita in the film because producer Jerry Weintraub wanted him to sound more ethnic. He said he used the billing because it was "the only name my parents gave me."

He lost the 1984 best supporting actor award to Haing S. Ngor, who appeared in The Killing Fields.

For years, Morita played small and sometimes demeaning roles in such films as Thoroughly Modern Millie and TV series such as The Odd Couple and Green Acres. His first breakthrough came with Happy Days, and he followed with his own brief series, Mr. T and Tina.

The Karate Kid, led to three sequels, the last of which, 1994's The Next Karate Kid, paired him with a young Hilary Swank.

Morita was prolific outside of the Karate Kid series as well, appearing in Honeymoon in Vegas,Spy Hard,Even Cowgirls Get the Blues and The Center of the World. He also provided the voice for a character in the Disney movie Mulan in 1998.

Morita played Arnold in Happy Days. (AP)

Born in northern California on June 28, 1932, the son of migrant fruit pickers, Morita spent most of his early years in the hospital with spinal tuberculosis. He later recovered only to be sent to a Japanese-American internment camp in Arizona during World War II.

"One day I was an invalid," he recalled in a 1989 AP interview. "The next day I was public enemy No. 1 being escorted to an internment camp by an FBI agent wearing a piece."

After the war, Morita's family tried to repair their finances by operating a Sacramento restaurant. It was there that Morita first tried his comedy on patrons.

Because prospects for a Japanese-American standup comic seemed poor, Morita found steady work in computers at Aerojet General. But at age 30 he entered show business full time.

"Only in America could you get away with the kind of comedy I did," he commented. "If I tried it in Japan before the war, it would have been considered blasphemy, and I would have ended in leg irons. "

He is survived by his wife and three daughters from a previous marriage.

Memorial services will be held in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Honolulu. Morita will be buried at Palm Green Valley Mortuary and Cemetery in Las Vegas.

"The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin."